Legacy to our children

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Re: "Climate change: Superstorm a super reminder" (Our View, Oct. 31)

Finally, we mention the forbidden subject that threatens so many. Finally, we can begin to destroy the dark Lord Voldemort, for we are unafraid to speak his name!

How is it we scarcely mention an issue that threatens so many? In state where religion is so important that we say on Sunday, "I am the good shepherd: the shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11), it is ironic that we insist on policies that slaughter the sheep and poison the pasture.

Our ever-increasing carbon emissions are changing our world. Consider just this year: worst fire season, Hurricane Sandy, hottest year ever, lowest arctic ice ever, most high temperatures ever. That is the debt we push on our progeny. (See more at www.skepticalscience.com.)

Republican politicians say, "Do not burden our children with debt." What hypocrisy! We only discuss monetary debt, ignoring another debt that is worse.

It's time to admit our mistakes. We have not been good shepherds. That must change.

As the Native American proverb states, we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. That is the debt we should worry about.